Drug Policy Roundtable challenged

Significant harm reduction to the people of New
Zealand or simplistic political rhetoric. Those were
presented as the alternatives to attendees at the Drug
Policy Roundtable in Wellington this morning, during the
opening address by Tim Harding, Chair of the NZ Drug
Foundation.

The Roundtable is a yearly forum for New
Zealand’s drug policy makers, health professionals and
politicians to discuss the future of New Zealand's drug laws
and policies. A number of drug policy experts from overseas
are also attending.

"Today’s Roundtable is an important
opportunity to identify and debate world leading policy," Mr
Harding said.

"But it’s also an election year, and the
temptation to score political points with fear-based
rhetoric that will only feed public ignorance must be
avoided. Therein lies the challenge."

Drug Foundation
Director Ross Bell said good drug laws and policies are
based on understanding the reasons behind drug use and
making it easier for users and addicts to get the help they
need.

“It’s all too easy, however, for politicians to
play on the public’s fears and suggest approaches designed
to curry favour that are not based on sound evidence and
will likely make drug problem worse and lead to greater harm
in the community.

"The Roundtable is designed to set the
scene for the year, and lead balanced thoughtful and
sensitive dialogue on drug policy, especially as our drug
laws are under review and political parties are forming
their election manifestos."

Professor Doug Sellman,
Director of New Zealand’s National Addiction Centre, said
New Zealand is arguably in the best position to lead the
world in developing rational drug policy.

“We’re a
small nation and it takes a relatively short time for ideas
to gain the attention of our policy and decision makers. The
rapid implementation of our world-leading needle exchange
programme 21 years ago is evidence of this.

“We’re
also a nation with a history of boldness on a lot of levels.
We haven't been scared to lead the world in women’s
suffrage, becoming nuclear-free or climbing tall
mountains.

“We can also be world-leaders in drug
legislation that identifies what the problems are address
them in ways that save lives.”

The Drug Policy
Roundtable closely follows the Beyond 2008 Australasian
Consultation also held in Wellington earlier this week where
community organisations had opportunity to feedback to the
United Nations on what has worked In New Zealand in reducing
supply an use of illicit drugs.

In 1998 The United Nations
General Assembly set a target for a drug-free world in ten
years.

Mr Harding said we’re now left with just ten
months to rid the world of drugs.

“The UN targets are
one of the best examples of unrealistic rhetoric and
decisions made for political rather than humanitarian
reasons.

“The ‘war on drugs’ philosophy has
obviously failed. It’s time for us to seek solutions based
on treatment and honest evaluation of solid
evidence.”

The Drug Policy Roundtable was attended by
representatives from the Law Commission, Police, Customs,
the Ministries of Justice and Health, and the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

International participants
also include Alison Ritter from the National Drug and
Alcohol Research Centre which advise the Australian
government on drug policy, Michel Perron from the Canadian
Centre on Substance Abuse and Gábor Somogyi of the Beckley
Foundation Drug Policy Programme in the United
Kingdom.

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